Batting

NEW CONCORD, Ohio - The Penn State Behrend baseball team defeated Muskingum 8-4 in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon for their third straight victory.

Four different Lions had two hits as Behrend recorded double digit hits for the third consecutive game.

The Lions (7-5) jumped out early in the first inning with a Matt Bittner (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) two-run home run. Behrend scored another in the second after Ryan Kragnes (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) doubled home Nathan Junk (Cabot, PA/Knoch).

After a scoreless third, the offense put a four spot on the board in the fourth to take a 7-0 lead. Evan Bukowski (Washington, PA/Trinity) doubled to center to start the inning. Junk singled to advance Bukowski to third and Behrend was in business. Vinny Rice (Harmony, PA/Seneca Valley) laid down a bunt single to score Bukowski. After Kranges drove in Junk, Dante DeSantis (DuBois, PA/DuBois Central Catholic) kept the inning alive with a RBI single.

Muskingum was able to answer in the bottom half with three runs of their own, but Chad Zurat (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) shut down the Muskies for the rest of the game. Zurat threw 5.1 innings of relief, striking out seven and only allowing one run for his first win of the year.

Kragnes, Bittner, Junk, and Bukowski each had two hits for the Lions, who have found their offensive stride.

Behrend's six-game road trip continues tomorrow at Waynesburg. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.